This Week in the BIG EAST - Weekly Overview of NCAA College Basketball's Top Conference

John Rooke & Kevin McNamara
  • 5.0 (31)
  • BASKETBALL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST, hosted by Kevin McNamara and John Rooke, is the official podcast of BIG EAST basketball. Kevin, radio host, columnist and author, and John, a longtime play-by-play broadcaster, have combined to cover BIG EAST basketball for over 60 years. The show is a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America, welcoming guests from around the league. #TWITBE also brings sounds of the games – past and present – through @BIGEASTmbb game audio highlights from Butler, UConn, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier. Each episode, John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) recap the latest news in the BIG EAST and preview what’s to come. Post questions to John and Kevin on X while tagging #TWITBE. 

  1. 5D AGO

    #TWITBE EP. 12.7 - Rick Pitino, KJ Lewis and Zach Braziller

    NEW YORK -- St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, Georgetown guard KJ Lewis, and New York Post and college basketball insider Zach Braziller are the guests on the seventh episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on St. John's head coach Rick Pitino.  The Red Storm have won 10 straight entering this weekend's matchup at Providence and are ranked No. 17 in both polls.  The Naismith Hall of Fame coach recently earned his 904th on-court victory - third most in Division I history - and talks about his views on roster construction, how his Red Storm team continues to evolve, and how much fun he is having coaching and competing in the BIG EAST. Lewis joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus.  One of the top all-around players in the country, the Georgetown guard is a standout on both ends of the floor.  He discusses his first season in the BIG EAST, transferring to the Hoyas after spending two seasons at Arizona, and how his game has grown under head coach Ed Cooley. For the National Perspective, New York Post college basketball insider Zach Braziller joins the show to recap last week's epic matchup between UConn and St. John's, his overview on the BIG EAST as the calendar approaches March, and who he views as one of the conference's best players of the century so far. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  2. FEB 6

    #TWITBE EP.12.6 - Richard Pitino, Nigel James Jr. and Tom Crean

    Xavier head coach Richard Pitino, Marquette freshman guard Nigel James Jr., and ESPN analyst and former Marquette head coach Tom Crean are the guests on the sixth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Xavier head coach Richard Pitino.  In his first season in Cincinnati, Pitino's high-octane offensive attack has the Musketeers on the fast track to success.  He talks about the process of constructing his roster to compete in a physically demanding league like the BIG EAST and gives his perspective on the league as a whole. James Jr. joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus.  One of the top freshmen guards in the country, the Marquette newcomer is an exciting player on both ends of the court.  Originally from Long Island, James Jr. is another in a long like of outstanding New York guards to shine in the BIG EAST.  He joins the podcast to talk about his first collegiate season and what it is like to play under head coach Shaka Smart. For the National Perspective, former Marquette head coach and current ESPN analyst Tom Crean joins the show to provide his thoughts on the BIG EAST season so far.  He was at the helm of the Golden Eagles when they first joined the league 20 years ago in 2005-06.  Crean will be recognized with a banner in the rafters at Fiserv Forum at the Marquette home game vs. Butler on Saturday, Feb. 7 for his many accomplishments during his nine-year tenure in Milwaukee. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  3. JAN 30

    #TWITBE Ep. 12.5 - Kevin Willard, Tarris Reed Jr. and Spero Dedes

    Villanova head coach Kevin Willard, UConn center Tarris Reed Jr., and TNT Sports' play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes are the guests on the fifth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Villanova head coach Kevin Willard.  In his first season with the Wildcats - and his 12th season in the BIG EAST - Willard has fast-tracked the rebuilding process on the Main Line.  He talks about the process of building a roster from scratch and how influential former Villanova head coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Jay Wright was in his decision to return to the league. Reed Jr. joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus.  Now in his second season at UConn, the 6-11 senior has emerged as one of the top post players in the country.  He talks about the Huskies' hot start to the 2025-26 season, what it is like to play for head coach Dan Hurley, and rising up to the challenge of lofty expectations in Storrs.  For the National Perspective, TNT Sports' Spero Dedes joins the show to discuss what he has seen so far in his first full season of calling BIG EAST basketball.  Dedes, who has been calling NCAA Tournament games since 2010, provides his thoughts and perspective on the teams and the players in the conference and the impact they will make in March. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  4. JAN 23

    #TWITBE Ep. 12.4 - Austin Swartz, Shaka Smart and Bill Raftery

    NEW YORK -- Creighton guard Austin Swartz, Marquette head coach Shaka Smart, and basketball broadcasting icon Bill Raftery are the guests on the fourth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   Swartz joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus, hot off a game winner at the buzzer at home over Xavier.  He discussed the transfer process and how he ended up at Creighton after a season at Miami and managing the transition and adjustments needed to play in the Bluejays' system and in the BIG EAST.  This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Shaka Smart - one of four active BIG EAST coaches with a Final Four appearance on his resume.  Now in his fifth season as head coach at Marquette, Smart has guided the Golden Eagles to four NCAA Tournaments, while capturing BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles. For the National Perspective, college basketball broadcasting legend Bill Raftery joins #TWITBE.  The former Seton Hall head coach - now an analyst with FOX and CBS for the NCAA Tournament -  discusses all things BIG EAST, including one of his most iconic calls 38 years ago from Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  5. JAN 16

    #TWITBE Ep. 12.3 - Zuby Ejiofor, Chris Holtmann and Rob Dauster

    St. John's star forward Zuby Ejiofor, DePaul head coach Chris Holtmann, and Rob Dauster from the Field of 68 are the guests on the third episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   Ejiofor joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus, discussing his growth as a player and a leader for St. John's.  The senior forward leads the Red Storm in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocked shots and is a key part of the Johnnies' run to a deep NCAA Tournament run.   Holtmann is this week's BIG EAST Spotlight.  He has DePaul at 10-7 overall heading into the crux of the BIG EAST schedule.  Holtmann joins the podcast to discuss his second stint as a head coach in the conference and the strides the Blue Demons have made in their rebuilding process.  For the National Perspective, Rob Dauster from the Field of 68 joins the podcast to discuss the league and some of the many highlights from the 2025-26 season so far. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  With episode two, the show begins its weekly run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  6. JAN 9

    #TWITBE Ep. 12.2 - Shaheen Holloway, Alex Karaban, John Fanta

    Seton Hall head coach Shaheen Holloway, UConn standout Alex Karaban, and NBC Sports broadcaster John Fanta are the guests on the second episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   Holloway is this week's BIG EAST Spotlight.  The Seton Hall head coach has the Pirates at 13-2 overall and 3-1 in league play as they prepare to travel to Georgetown on Saturday.  Holloway breaks down how he rebuilt the Seton Hall roster so quickly coming into this season after a disappointing 2024-25 campaign.  Coming off a thrilling overtime win at Providence, Karaban joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus.  The redshirt senior was part of two national championship teams for Dan Hurley at UConn and was recently tabbed as one of 25 players for the Wooden Award's mid-season watch list. NBC Sports' Fanta provides the National Perspective.  Calling some of the biggest games in the BIG EAST and around the country, Fanta shares his big picture thoughts on the season so far. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and recipient of the 2025 BIG EAST Media Award.  With episode two, the show begins its weekly run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  7. 12/12/2025

    #TWITBE Ep. 12.1 - Finley Bizjack, Tim Welsh, Matt Norlander

    This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, begins its 12th season with guests Butler junior guard Finley Bizjack, ESPN Analyst Tim Welsh and CBS Sports Senior Writer Matt Norlander. The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. Prior to Saturday's league opener between Providence and Butler, the first episode of TWITBE takes a look at the upcoming conference season and the landscape of BIG EAST Basketball. The BIG EAST Spotlight is on former Providence coach and current ESPN color analyst Tim Welsh, who discusses the challenges of the transfer portal era, roster construction and schedule composition.  The BIG EAST Focus shines on Butler guard Finley Bizjack. Now in his third season with the Bulldogs, Bizjack leads the team with 18.0 points per game, nearly double his average of 10.3 as a sophomore. CBS Sports senior writer Matt Norlander gives a view on the national perspective. With so many compelling games through the first month of the season, Norlander breaks it all down as well as gives his thoughts on how the top BIG EAST teams rank in the national picture.  To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  8. 03/07/2025

    #TWITBE Ep. 11.9 - Rick Pitino, Val Ackerman, Jerry Walker

    This Week In The BIG EAST Radio Show, distributed by Westwood One, continued its 11th season with guests St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman and BIG EAST Legend and former Seton Hall star Jerry Walker. The returning hosts for This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) are John Rooke, a longtime BIG EAST play-by-play voice, and Kevin McNamara, BIG EAST radio host, columnist and author. Rooke and McNamara give a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. The ninth episode of TWITBE looks at the landscape of the BIG EAST heading into the final weekend of regular season action. With five games remaining before the BIG EAST Tournament Presented by JEEP, eight of the 11 seeds are up for grabs. The BIG EAST Spotlight is on St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, fresh off clinching the first outright regular season BIG EAST title in 40 years. Pitino now has the Red Storm poised for a pair of deep runs in the BIG EAST and NCAA Tournament, and talks about how the team will enjoy the home court feel at Madison Square Garden as the No. 1 seed. The BIG EAST Focus shines on BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman, who provides an informed account of where NCAA Athletics stand today and where it could be heading. Wrapping up her 12th season as Commissioner, Ackerman looks ahead to the 43rd playing of the BIG EAST Tournament in the world’s most famous arena, MSG.  Rooke and McNamara are then joined by current BIG EAST Legend Jerry Walker. The former Seton Hall forward was the BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year in 1993, as well as a two-time All-BIG EAST member and a two-time BIG EAST Champion in 1991 and 1993. Walker takes the time to talk about his playing days as well as the work he has been doing in the community over the years. The episode’s “Who’s Hot” segment features the return of “Blast from the Past”, turning back the clock 40 years to 1985. St John’s, Villanova, and Georgetown were all in the Final Four during a magical run for the BIG EAST in the 1985 NCAA Tournament. In the first edition of the 64-team field, the eighth seeded Wildcats shocked the world, knocking off Georgetown to win the National Championship.  To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts. This will air Saturday, March 8 at 11:00 a.m. ET on Sirius 161 XM 201 Online 963 leading into St. John's at Marquette.

    45 min
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About

Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST, hosted by Kevin McNamara and John Rooke, is the official podcast of BIG EAST basketball. Kevin, radio host, columnist and author, and John, a longtime play-by-play broadcaster, have combined to cover BIG EAST basketball for over 60 years. The show is a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America, welcoming guests from around the league. #TWITBE also brings sounds of the games – past and present – through @BIGEASTmbb game audio highlights from Butler, UConn, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier. Each episode, John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) recap the latest news in the BIG EAST and preview what’s to come. Post questions to John and Kevin on X while tagging #TWITBE. 

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